Playgroups, Nurseries & Childminders

What early learning and childcare is available?

We offer a range of different childcare options to enable you to choose which is best for you and your child. This includes 30 council nurseries (17 nursery classes and 13 standalone), 13 funded provider nurseries and 38 funded childminders.

Early Learning and Childcare is going through a transformative change. We are working with the Scottish Government, stakeholders, funded providers and third sector organisations to provide a flexible service for families across Stirling.

Previously, children were able to access 600 funded hours of early learning and childcare provision. To help support children and their families, the Government have committed to almost double these funded hours and will offer families 1140 funded hours of early learning and childcare by August 2020. In Stirling, this is being rolled out over a three year period. Phase one began in some Stirling nurseries in August 2018, phase two will begin in August 2019 and phase three will be as of August 2020. The extra hours will be available to all children aged 3 or 4 years and for some 2 years olds whose parents/carers are in receipt of certain welfare benefits.

Once in place, families will have much more of a choice of how they access early learning and childcare provision as the expansion will provide families in Stirling with flexible options of how to access their funded hours.

Expansion of early learning and childcare - phase 2

Free childcare places for 2 year olds

The Scottish Government are now offering free childcare places to all 2 year olds whose parents are in receipt of Universal Credit. We are also offering free places to all 2 year olds who are looked after or in kinship care. Please contact the nursery for more information.